Gate operator

ABSTRACT

A gate operator for cyclone fencing and the like characterized by a compact arrangement of parts so as to fit within an enclosure having plan dimensions of about 12 X 12 inches and including in vertically stacked relation, a gear reducer-clutchdrive sprocket, and a reversing starter, the arrangement also including a limit switch disposed in side-by-side relation to the gear reducer-clutch-drive sprocket.

United States Patent 1 1 1111 Anderson 1 Oct. 2, 1973 GATE OPERATOR 2,871,009 1/1959 Picatti 49/360 x 3,048,385 8/1962 Reynolds 192/142R [75] lnvemo" Andemn, Aumrav 3,625,328 12/1971 Carli 192/142 R [73] Assignee: DBT Manufacturing Ltd., Stone Park, Ill. Primary Examiner-Arthur T. McKeon [22] Filed. Feb 4 1972 ArtomeyDawson, Tilton, Fallon & Lungmus Appl. No.: 223,449

US. Cl 192/142 R, 49/360, 74/845 Int. CL... Fl6d 71/00, B60k 21/00, E05f 1 1/00 Field of Search 74/845; 49/360, 31,

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 12/1919 Elliott.. 49/360 5/1972 Bevan 74/801 X [57] ABSTRACT 4 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PAIENTED W 2W3 SHEET 1 OF 2 FIGI PATENTED 1m 2m SHEET 2 BF 2 FIG.6

FIG, 5

FIG.8

Ill-lull GATE OPERATOR BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION Large gates for fenced in 'areas have to be opened quickly and reliably for access by trucks and the like. In the past, gate operators for this opening which may be horizontal sliding, vertical sliding, swinging, etc., have been housed in substantial sized enclosures. This resulted in a two-fold defect. First, because of the relative large size of the operator housing, it had a tendency to project into the path of vehicles, particularly those which had to make sharp turns. Frequently this resulted in destruction of the operator and costly delays in manipulating the gate and expensive repairs. Also, the very size of the operator usually meant that a substantial gate overhang had to be provided. For example, with an enclosure as small as 20 X 20 inches in plan it was usually necessary to provide a gate overhang of the order of 30 inches to make sure that the energy from the operator was properly transferred to the drive chain operating the gate. By overhang, I refer to the fact that there is a portion of the gate in the closed position that overhangs or overlaps the stationary adjacent portion of the fencing a portion of the gate which performs no useful function. However, with the vertically stacked, compact arrangement of operational parts, I have been able to provide an operator which fits within an enclosure about 12 X I2 inches in plan. This not only reduces the size of the target for maneuvering trucks, semi-trailers, etc., but has permitted a reduction in the gate overhang to not more than about 15 inches. Even further, with this small. amount of overhang, it is now feasible to eliminate the overhang all together and merely utilize a cantilevered beam for the connection of the drive chain thus effecting substantial savings in the materials of construction of the gate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The invention is described in conjunction with an illustrative embodiment in the accompanying drawing,

in which FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, essentially schematic, of one of the various applications of the inventive operator;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the operator seen in FIG. 1; v

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the operator of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of the operator seen in FIG. 3, as seen from the sight line 4-4 applied to FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the operator of FIG. 2;

FIGS. 6 and 7 are horizontal sectional views taken along the sight lines 6-6 and 7-7, respectively, as applied to FIG. 5; and

FIG. 8 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIG. 7.

In the illustration given, and with reference first to FIG. 1, the numeral 10 designates generally a fence or other enclosure which in many instances may be cyclone fencing. The numeral 11 designates a gate which closes an opening in the fencing 10, while the numeral 12 designates generally the operator for the gate. In the illustration given in FIG. I, the application is relatively simple, being a single slide gate. The gate is equipped with a drive chain 13 which is attached to each end of the gate and mechanically coupled to the operator 12,

and, as sprockets powered by the operator 12 are turned, the gate is caused to move sidewardly in the illustration given in FIG. 1. The basic organization just described is well known, so additional details of the gate, fence, and drive chain structure are deemed unnecessary. It will be appreciated that other applications of the inventive operator include bi-parting gates, vertical lift gates, single cantilever gates, and bi-parting cantilever gates, all of which are known to the art. Also, it can be applied to large doors.

The sprockets mentioned above can be quickly appreciatedfrom a consideration of FIGS. 3 and 4. In each of those views, the drive chain is again identified by the numeral 13 and is seen to be entrained over a main drive sprocket 14 with built-in safety clutch, and two idler sprockets 15 and 16. The idler sprocket l6 additionally is coupled to a limit switch 17 to be described hereinafter.

The operator 12 is seen to include a housing 18 which, by comparing FIGS. 2 and 3, is seen to be essentially rectangular, i.e., square in plan and vertically elongated. This is advantageously fabricated of sheet steel suitably bolstered and supported by angles, channels or other structural shapes. For example, as can be seen in FIG. 3, the side of the enclosure or housing 18 which is adjacent the sprockets l4l6 includes a 12 inches channel member 19. The channel member 19 provides rigid support for a bearing unit 20 which rotatducer 23 suitably mounted within the housing 18. Me

chanically coupled to the gear reducer and positioned immediately thereabove is the drive-brake motor 24; Thus, mechanical energy from the electric motor 24 is.

delivered through the gear reducer 23 to the clutch 22 and then to the sprocket 14.

Reference was made previously to the limit switch 17, and it will be seen from a consideration of FIG. 3 that this limit switch 17 is mounted in the housing 18 in a position on one side of the gear reducer 23 and brakemotor 24. This permits ready access to the microswitches or other setting means which are advantageously available from the top of the enclosure or housing 18. For this purpose I provide a removable cover 26 (see FIGS. 2 and 3) whereby an artisan can change the settings on the limit switch readily and with the best available light.

For the purpose of coupling the idler sprocket 16 to the limit switch 17, I provide a shaft 27 which is mmably mounted within a bearing 28 suitably secured to the channel member 19. Inasmuch as the idler, sprocket 15 is provided essentially for the purpose of insuring that the drive chain 13 is suitably entrained on the drive sprocket 14, a bolt support 29 is provided for the freerunning sprocket 15.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 5, the numeral 30 designates a reversing starter which is seen to be positioned below the clutch 22. The operation of the elements thus far described, includes rotational mechanical power delivered by the brakemotor 24 to the gear reducer 23. Here it will be appreciated that suitable electrical connections from a main power source (not shown) are provided in conventional fashion. The rotational power from the gear reducer 23 is delivered through the clutch 22 and into the shaft 21, causing the sprocket 14 to rotate. This causes the chain 13 to travel and with it, the gate 11. After a predetermined number of revolutions of the idler sprocket 16, the gate open setting on the limit switch 17 is reached, which cuts off electric current from the brakemotor 24. When it is desired to close the gate 11, the guard or monitor actuates a suitable switch (not shown) in the electrical circuitry which activates the reversing starter 30 that is electrically coupled to the brakemotor 24. Electrical energy is delivered to the brakemotor 24 to cause'the sprocket 14 to rotate in the opposite direction, and this persists until the closed setting on the limit switch 17 is reached.

I also provide means for the emergency disconnection of the system, and this is achieved economically, yet reliably, through the provision of an emergency handle 31 which is mounted on the exterior of the housing 18. More particularly, an emergency release drive shaft 32 (see FIG. 7) is provided which is suitably journaled in bearings 33 and 34 within the housing 18 and through channel 19. A portion of the shaft 32 projects exteriorly of the housing 18, and it is to this extension that the handle 31 can be swung counterclockwise about its pivot axis (the axis of the shaft 32) so as to dispose the handle at a slight angle to the vertical this being the disengaged portion. The handle 31, as can be seen from FIGS. 2 and 5, has an integral projection 35 which is alignable with brackets 36 and 37, permitting padlocking of the handle 31 in either of the two positions.

The emergency release shaft 32 has fixed to it a drive gear 38 which is engageable with a gear rack 39 slidably supported in a guide 40 and coupled to the clutch 22 as at 41. As the handle 31 is rotated, the rotational movement is transmitted through the shaft 32 and the gear 38 to the rack 39 which disengages the faces of the clutch 22 so that irrespective of whether power is applied to the drive train including the brakemotor 24, gear reducer 23, and a portion of the clutch 22, there will be no rotational movement of the sprocket 14; hence, the drive chain 13 will not be actuated.

By separating the limit switch 17 from the main drive shaft for the sprocket 14, l insure that when the operator is used subsequently, the same limit switch settings can be utilized. Inasmuch as the limit switch is associated with the idler sprocket l6 (and hence the chain 13), it is keyed to the gate rather than the brakemotor 24. Thus, any operation of the brakemotor, when not coupled to the gate, will not affect the settings of the limit switch.

I claim:

1. A gate operator for cyclone fencing and the like characterized by a compact arrangement of parts so as to fit within an enclosure having plan dimensions of about 12 X 12 inches comprising a generally rectangular, vertically elongated housing, a sprocket drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and projecting horizontally therefrom, a drive sprocket fixed to said drive shaft externally of said housing, a pair of idler sprockets pivotally mounted on said housing and aligned with said drive sprocket, a chain entrained on said sprockets and adapted to be coupled to a gate, a clutch mounted in said housing aligned with and coupled to said shaft, a gear reducer mounted in said housing aligned with and coupled to said clutch, a motor mounted in said housing above said gear reducer and coupled thereto, a reversing starter mounted in said housing below said clutch and gear reducer and electrically coupled to said motor, one of said idler sprockets being mounted on a second shaft parallel to said drive shaft, said second shaft projecting both exteriorly and interiorly of said housing and rotatably supported thereby, and a limit switch mounted in said housing aligned with and coupled to said second shaft and disposed beside said gear reducer and clutch, said limit switch being electrically coupled to said reversing starter.

2. The operator of claim 1 in which said housing is equipped with a removable cover whereby ready access is available to said limit switch for changing the setting thereof.

3. The operator of claim 1 in which an emergency release shaft is rotatably mounted in said housing below said drive shaft and extending transversely thereto and extending both exteriorly and interiorly of said housing, said emergency release shaft being mechanically coupled to said clutch, and a handle on said emergency release shaft exteriorly of said housing for uncoupling said drive sprocket from said gear reducer.

4. The operator of claim 3 in which the mechanical coupling of said clutch and emergency release shaft includes a rack and gear.

23 g UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3,762,524 Dated October 1973-- Oliver c. Anderson I I Inventor(s) It is certified that: errorvappears in the above-identified patent; and that said Letters Patent are hereby cerrected as shown below:

of h AB TRACW v' 7' Y, fi f"" should b c ap i t aliz ed. I Column 1, lines '60 and 61, the diyi d ny e D I ,shCi ul Ld e c ap igteli zjed u'; e I I, 7 Column 5 line 7 (Gil-aimline n the word CY?l ne! should be cancel ed. r r I I Signed and sealed this 1st dayof Je-rlqarye l97he e E (SEAL) Attesvt:

EDWARD M.FL TCHERV,JE.D BEND DJTEGTMEYER v Attesting Officer 1 Acting Commiesi ner of Patents 

1. A gate operator for cyclone fencing and the like characterized by a compact arrangement of parts so as to fit within an enclosure having plan dimensions of about 12 X 12 inches comprising a generally rectangular, vertically elongated housing, a sprocket drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and projecting horizontally therefrom, a drive sprocket fixed to said drive shaft externally of said housing, a pair of idler sprockets pivotally mounted on said housing and aligned with said drive sprocket, a chain entrained on said sprockets and adapted to be coupled to a gate, a clutch mounted in said housing aligned with and coupled to said shaft, a gear reducer mounted in said housing aligned with and coupled to said clutch, a motor mounted in said housing above said gear reducer and coupled thereto, a reversing starter mounted in said housing below said clutch and gear reducer and electrically coupled to said motor, one of said idler sprockets being mounted on a second shaft parallel to said drive shaft, said second shaft projecting both exteriorly and interiorly of said housing and rotatably supported thereby, and a limit switch mounted in said housing aligned with and coupled to said second shaft and disposed beside said gear reducer and clutch, said limit switch being electrically coupled to said reversing starter.
 2. The operatoR of claim 1 in which said housing is equipped with a removable cover whereby ready access is available to said limit switch for changing the setting thereof.
 3. The operator of claim 1 in which an emergency release shaft is rotatably mounted in said housing below said drive shaft and extending transversely thereto and extending both exteriorly and interiorly of said housing, said emergency release shaft being mechanically coupled to said clutch, and a handle on said emergency release shaft exteriorly of said housing for uncoupling said drive sprocket from said gear reducer.
 4. The operator of claim 3 in which the mechanical coupling of said clutch and emergency release shaft includes a rack and gear. 